Topic Guide: Public Procurement

Curbing corruption in public procurement: a practical guide. Kühn, S., Sherman, L.B., Transparency International, 2014. http://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/pub/curbing_corruption_in_public_procurement_a_practical_guide

This guide provides a basic introduction to corruption risks in public procurement. Civil society can use the enumerated principles and minimum standards to be adopted by governments to ensure full integrity of the public contracting process to advocate for steps to reduce corruption and waste in public contracting. The guide also emphasises the important role that civil society organisations can play in the procurement process as monitors and watchdogs acting against corruption. Further, the guide identifies some critical issues in procurement processes that are often overlooked, and details steps that public officials, the private sector and civil society can take, acting separately and together, to significantly curb corruption in public procurement. This is followed by a detailed presentation of available tools to reduce corruption in public procurement. Additionally, it provides an outline of the current status of the international regulatory framework, guidelines and standards that are applicable to public procurement.

Fraud and corruption awareness handbook: a handbook for civil servants involved in public procurement. World Bank, 2014. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/02/19437783/fraud-corruption-awareness-handbook-handbook-civil-servants-involved-public-procurement

This handbook is intended for government employees involved in public procurement. It provides some insights into how fraud and corruption schemes work in public investments. The handbook identifies a range of fraud and corruption indicators, or red flags, and relevant schemes that may become apparent during the life of an investment, from design to implementation. It is based on the experience of Poland’s Central Anti-Corruption Bureau and the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency, and it presents examples referring both to public investments implemented under Polish public procurement law and international competitive bidding. This handbook aims to provide support to the managers of procuring entities in conducting public procurement by identifying frequently occurring irregularities and suggesting methods of preventing them.

Integrity pacts in public procurement: an implementation guide. Transparency International, 2013. http://www.transparency.org/wh...

This manual is a hands-on practical guide to familiarise government officials in charge of procurement processes with the integrity pact (IP) and to provide them with tools and ideas for its application. The IP is a tool developed by Transparency International to help governments, businesses and civil society to fight corruption in public contracting. It consists of an agreement between a government or government agency (the authority) and all bidders for a public sector contract, setting out rights and obligations to the effect that neither side will pay, offer, demand or accept bribes; nor will bidders collude with competitors to obtain the contract, or bribe representatives of the authority while carrying it out. An independent monitor who oversees implementation and ensures all parties uphold their commitments under the pact brings transparency and invaluable oversight to all stakeholders in a contracting process, from the authority to the public.

Guidebook on anti-corruption in public procurement and the management of public finances. Good practices in ensuring compliance with Article 9 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2013. http://www.unodc.org/documents/corruption/Publications/2013/Guidebook_on_anti-corruption_in_public_procurement_and_the_management_of_public_finances.pdf

This guidebook looks at corruption in public procurement from the perspective of Article 9 of the UNCAC. The book helps policy makers to work towards corruption-free public procurement as part of a country’s obligations under UNCAC. In the second part, the UNODC guidebook provides a clear and comprehensive summary of corruption risks and related integrity measures in the various phases of public procurement and recommends specific preventive measures for each phase. The guide contains as an annex a Checklist for Meeting Minimum Requirements set out by Article 9 of UNCAC. This checklist of minimum requirements, clearly relevant for policy makers, can also double as a due diligence checklist for bidders (and their lawyers) seeking to assess corruption risks related to public procurement rules. Further, the book provides a model questionnaire which is aimed at verifying the level to which national legislation incorporates the principles described in the report.

The basics of integrity in procurement. Heggstad, K.K., Frøystad, M. Chr. Michelsen Institute, 2011. http://www.u4.no/publications/...

This guide provides tools and guidance to help assess risk levels and support appropriate safeguards against corruption in procurement using country systems in the context of donor-financed projects. As procurement is part of almost all projects, programmes and sector work, this paper is intended not only for procurement officers but for all development practitioners and government officials affected by procurement processes.

Checklist for enhancing integrity in public procurement. OECD, 2008. www.oecd.org/gov/41760991.pdf

The checklist is designed to guide policy makers at central government level to instil a culture of integrity in the entire procurement cycle, from needs assessment to contract management and payment. The first part of the checklist provides guidance for policy makers – in the form of ten key recommendations – on developing an adequate policy framework for enhancing integrity in public procurement; the second part provides guidance on how to implement this framework at each stage, from needs assessment to contract management. This part could be complemented in the next months by examples of practical tools used in various countries to support the implementation of the policy framework. The checklist draws upon policies and practices that have proved effective for enhancing integrity in public procurement. These reflect various legal and administrative systems. Elements of good practice were identified not only in OECD countries, but also in Brazil, Chile, Dubai, India, Pakistan, Romania, Slovenia and South Africa.

OECD Procurement Toolbox. OECD, 2008.http://www.oecd.org/governance/procurement/toolbox/

The toolbox is an online resource that captures emerging good practices to enhance corruption prevention and good management in public procurement in OECD and non-OECD countries. The tools contained in this website have been compiled from practices which have been successfully tested in a number of countries. Tools apply to the phases: pre-tendering phase; tendering phase; post-award phase; and some tools which apply to the entire procurement cycle. These tools help to ensure transparency, good management, prevention of misconduct, accountability and control.